Lumbarda

Lumbarda sits right at the eastern tip of Korčula Island, and it’s been inhabited a lot longer than most visitors assume. Greek settlers from Issa (today’s Vis) founded a colony here in the 3rd century BC, and left behind the Lumbarda Psephism — a stone inscription now considered the oldest written document found in Croatia.

These days the village is known for wine rather than ruins. Grk, a rare white grape variety, grows almost exclusively in the sandy soil around Lumbarda — fewer than 50 hectares of it exist anywhere. It’s an odd vine: Grk only produces female flowers, so growers plant Plavac Mali alongside it just to get pollination going. Despite the name, genetic testing has shown it isn’t actually Greek in origin — it’s related to the Croatian grape Tribidrag. Around eight wineries in the village still produce it.

Lumbarda’s beaches are part of the draw too. Prvi Žal, a pebble beach right next to the marina, is the most central; Bilin Zal and Vela Pržina, both sandy, sit in sheltered coves a short walk away — a rarity on an island where most beaches are stone and shingle.

For boats, Marina Lumbarda sits in the sheltered Prvi Zal Bay with around 115 berths, protected from most winds except strong north-easterlies. It’s a popular stop for gulet charter guests exploring Dubrovnik, close enough to Korčula Town to combine both in a single day.